Because the wiggle room between a lie and a denial is hair’s-breadth narrow.

Because there’s nowhere to hide, not in obfuscating language, not in a flailing counter-attack at the Toronto Star that landed no punches.

Because he is a man in ruins, drowning in the wreckage of a scandal that continues unabated.

Because he needs help and won’t take it.

Three-and-a-half minutes and the Ford camp push-back was left in shambles.

“There has been a serious accusation from the Toronto Star that I use crack cocaine. I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.’’

Nothing declarative or convincing there. Nothing that will choke the life out of allegations made about him.

“I cannot comment on a video that I’ve never seen or does not exist.’’

Not: There is no video.

Not: The video is a fake.

Not: I have never smoked crack cocaine.

Not: I don’t do drugs.

Not: I don’t consort with drug dealers.

No explanation for a photograph that shows the mayor in the company of a man since murdered, shot in the head.

No explanation for the provenance of cellphone video footage that appears to show Toronto’s mayor sucking on a crack pipe, thrice watched by Star reporters Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan, as well as the editor of U.S.-based website Gawker.

No explanation for Ford’s voice on that alleged video calling Justin Trudeau a “fag’’ and the teenagers he coached “f---ing minorities.’’

No explanation for suddenly firing a chief of staff who, sources had told some Toronto media, went out urging the mayor to go to rehab, a wise piece of advice that got Mark Towhey jettisoned.

No acknowledgement of the “open letter to Toronto’’ signed by a six-pack of executive committee members who’d just entreated Ford to “definitively address the allegations before him … openly and transparently.’’

No explanations, no questions allowed, no sincere plea for forgiveness and compassion — which was there for the taking.

Ford’s words were so specific, his shuffle so finely choreographed, that they immediately invited skeptical parsing.

The mayor’s highly anticipated and highly anti-climactic remarks weighed heavily towards the irrelevant — a farewell to the Don Bosco Eagles football squad he’s coached for the past decade, because as of Wednesday Ford is no longer welcome to coach any team for the Toronto Catholic school board.

Is that what this baffling mayor is most grieving, while all about him turns to rubble?

And do we now have to wait another week before Ford takes another run at it? Because that statement on Friday will not be the epitaph.

“He should resign, he should then go and seek some help for himself and his family.’’

Ford’s tenure is not over. There’s no apparatus for impeaching the mayor under these circumstances. That’s his ace in the hole.

But he’s just dug himself a bigger hole of incredulousness.

Ford blamed legal counsel — unidentified — for a week-plus of mystifying silence, day after day of dodging journalists, skulking in and out of his office.

Ford blamed the Star for his miseries, as so often before, as if this entire debacle is nothing more than mischief without basis and this newspaper a reckless media organization.

“It is most unfortunate, very unfortunate, that my colleagues and the great people of this city have been exposed to the fact that I have been judged by the media without any evidence.’’

Ford had no sooner turned his back on the horde of journalists outside his office than brother Doug stepped to the podium, banging on the same one-note drum.

“Very simple. There’s one news organization that … has an accusation of a video that does not exist or we haven’t seen.’’

The mayor had made no reference to Gawker, which actually broke the videotape story last Thursday. Doug Ford took up that refrain instead.

“Let me tell you about Gawker. I think it’s disgusting, as I said before, that an organization like Gawker would go out there and deal with a bunch of extortionists, Somalian drug dealers, as they said, in their words … puts a real tarnish on a Somalian community that I represent, thousands of them, they’re hard-working people, and I again think it’s disgraceful.

“Folks, you have a good weekend.’’

Oh shut-up, Doug.

Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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